Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-05-29

A. seen nv the Keeper Of the High
Hand Light on Cape Cod.

luc Ndpt, hUOWD hS but IllBuiduun' anu
the following year a wooden light
house, the first on Cape Cod, was built
on the spot and called Cape Cod light.
] he building was a crude affair, as was
the light. which consisted Of twelve oil
lamps with rofcctors, which, com
binod, threw a light about eight or ten
miles out at sea. With the advance Of
science improvements were from time
to time made both in the light and the
building. The wooden structure gave
place TO stone tower and this was also
followed in time by the present struc-
turc, which is a substantial tower OF
brick, situated in latitude ~ g 81,
longitude 20 3 1S". on cliffs $40 feet
above mean sea level in this section.
The lens is six feet across and ten
feet high. being large enough TO allow
a person to stand erect inside, and,
with outstretched arms, Just touch
the opposite sides. II is of French
manufacture. made by l.. Sautter &
Co.. of Paris, in 1854. and put in
position in 1857. It's cost was $50, 000
In the centre or focus OF the lens is a
brass lamp of ten gallons capacity.
The burner is supplied with oil
through n supply tube and float
chamber containing float TO regulate
the flow Of oil, supplying it as fast
as consumed. The oil is forced into
the foat-chamber by plunger within
the lamp of 100 pounds weight. made
TO fit alright. The bulk Of the oil is
| kept rs far from the burner as possible
TO prevent heating. The burner has
| five Wicks of circular form-one within
the other with air spaces between, the
outer wick being a inches in diameter
| The five Wicks taken together measure
10 inches in length, and the flame from
which is carried TO a height of inches.
| The consumption is two quarts OF first
| quality mineral oil every hour. This
oil is strained four times before reach
ing the burner.
The lamp is connected by draft pipe
having dampcr TO regulate the fame.
with the external air through the top of
the lantern, and is thereby dependent
on the activity Of the outer air and very
sensitive to every change in direction
and force of wind, and requires con
slant tending.
Highland light is on one Of the most
prominent points Of the American
coast and in full view of the cOasting
fleets us they 60 trooping past from the
different ports. The sight at times is a
magnificent one, rs many rs 600 vessels
having been counted pGssingln one day.
With the coasters occasionally ap-
pears foreign tramp steamer from
the West Indies, and from out at sea
comes the square-rigger from Europe
or the far Fast Indies, while away of
on the horizon can he seen the smoke
of the passing ocean steamers to and
irom Europe This is the first light
made by the vessels from foreign ports
coming on this part of the coast.
The storms seen 10y the light-kccpers
ere often terrible pictures of the pow
ers Of Old Ocean. The huge waves
come rolling in twelve and fifteen feet
high. and, breaking on the bars, cover
tine water with foam two and three
miles from the shore. The treacherous
ioes often shut in very quick, making
il at times impossible to see fifty yards
from the shore
Connected with the light is n DaboH
fog-sieual which has been in operation
about fourteen years. The blast of the
trumpet is Of eight seconds duration,
with intervals OF thirty seconds between
bmsts and is supposed to be heard at "a
distance Of six miles.
The signal is run by the Ericsson
caloriC engine. There are three en-
zines in the building, tWo-horse power
each two being used ut a time, 1t re
f., uuiiinC two to accumulate pressure as
fast as blown of, the third being kept
~ reserve IN case of accident
These hot-air engines are much
less dangerous and more eco
uomictl iu fuel consumed. using
hut twenty-five pounds Of coal per
! hour. while Il steam iog-sigual at Race
/ Point uses about three times as much
in the same time. This trumpet Is
reed instrument. Of copper, about
/ twenty feet in length. The reed is "a
( solid piece OF steel ahout one foot long,
narrow and thin and it is the vibration
/ of this reed, a. air under a high pres
| sure is thrown against it, that causes
/ the loarse sound that Is thrown out
/ over the wild waves.
Many strange scenes Lave been wit
messed by the keepers Of this we'll
known hight, and CHASTITY relies Of ship
/ wrecks hWo been found along the
| shore. The log-book tells Of the loss Of
manva good ship sometimes it IS writ
/ ten "All lost - next. some have lived TO
/ tell the taie. andnext come the cheerful
words, "All saved. OF the ten acres
originally purchased about seven re-
main-a sure proof Of the ravages OF
| Old Ocean. The cliffs at this point are
/ of heavy clay soil aud wear away
very slowly. Heach-erass has caught
/ IN along Tie foot of the cliffs IN places
/ and has done more than all the money
/ spent by the Government to prevent
/ ihc cliffs from washing away.
Beach grass grows well N sandy
/ places. and has proved one of the best
| Of projections to Cape Cod. The
gradual waste-away in this vicinity has
/ been estimated to be about one foot
per year, while at some other points
| the coast-liue has increased. The tides
along here are something wonderful,
sweeping down the coast faster than a
man can walk.
The establishment Of Cape Cod light
was followed, in 1916. by the fixed
white light OH Race Point in 1898, by
the light on Mouonomy Point in 1926,
/ by the fixed white light on Long Point,
at the entrance of ProvincetOwn har-
Dor. The three beacons at Nauset
were established in 1887, and the re-
volying red light on Wood End in 1872.
These constitute the Gordon of lights
that guide the mariner along the back
shore of Cape Cod.
Superstition in the Highlands.
Respecting incantations, a CORE
spondent writes to Notes ana Qucrics q:
- in the year 1852 my brother Donald
had the misfortune to be run over 10y q
runaway horse and cart. His knee